Italy's national operator confirmed 257 awarded municipalities for 2026 — eleven more than last year — covering a total of 525 beaches and 87 marinas. According to the Foundation for Environmental Education, those 525 beaches represent about 11.6% of all Blue Flag beaches worldwide, keeping Italy among the programme's leading countries.

Fourteen municipalities entered the list for the first time, while three lost the distinction they had held: San Felice Circeo (Latina), Patù and Castrignano del Capo (both in Lecce).

Liguria stays on top

Liguria confirmed its place as Italy's most-awarded region with 35 municipalities, two more than in 2025, thanks to the additions of Andora and Taggia. It leads by a clear margin over Puglia and Calabria, tied in second place with 27 each. Within Liguria, the province of Savona alone accounts for 15 municipalities — the highest concentration in any single Italian province.

Blue Flag is not a simple beauty contest but an eco-label certifying the sustainable management of the coastline.

Among the new entries, three stand out for extending the map beyond the classic seaside destinations: Rimini, on the Emilia-Romagna coast, and two lake municipalities — Limone sul Garda in Lombardy and Monte Argentario in Tuscany. Blue Flags on Italian lakes rose to 23 this year with the addition of a new municipality.

How the flag is earned

The awards were assigned by the Foundation for Environmental Education, which each year recognises locations where bathing-water quality is rated excellent based on sampling from the previous four years. Other criteria include the existence and functioning of water-treatment plants, waste management, accessibility, beach upkeep, bather safety and environmental-education initiatives run by local authorities.

Italy's Ministry of Tourism, which hosted the announcement, underlined that the country holds more than 11% of the world's Blue Flag beaches — a figure it framed as recognition of both coastal quality and the tourism services offered to visitors.